John was born on 24 August 1922 in Leicester, Leicestershire, the only child of London born parents Louis and Marjorie nee Alvarez. Louis was a furrier and skins merchant and the family moved to Brighton, East Sussex where John attended Brighton College from 1936 to 1938. In 1939, he worked as an auctioneers assistant and he enlisted into the Royal Engineers at Clitheroe, Lancashire on 5 November 1942. By November 1943 he was serving in 79 Assault Squadron and he was sent to NW Europe on 6 June 1944 serving on the front line in the Battle of Normandy.

John was reported as missing on 13 February 1945 in the Netherlands and was confirmed as killed in action on 19 March 1945.